Automatically controlled laundry treatment machine having a detergent flushing device

ABSTRACT

An automatically controlled laundry treatment machine includes a detergent flushing device arranged in a machine interior and having a receiving chamber configured for receiving a transportable storage container for a supply containing a plurality of doses of liquid or gel-form treatment agent. The receiving chamber is accessible from outside. A device for automatic dosing of the treatment agent forms a component of the storage container and operates purely in a fluid-mechanical manner. The device is equipped with a hydraulic siphon system, said device.

The invention relates to an automatically controlled laundry treatmentmachine having a detergent flushing device which is arranged in themachine interior and comprises a receiving chamber for a storagecontainer for liquid or gel-form treatment agents, said receivingchamber being accessible from the outside, and a device for automaticdosing of every stored treatment agent.

In the automatically controlled washing machine according to thepreviously unpublished DE 10 2007 022 098 A1 originating from theapplicant, a transportable container is disclosed which can be insertedas a storage container into the dosing device of a washing machine. Thestorage container is automatically coupled to a fluid line whichcontains a conveying device for portion-wise drawing of the treatmentagent out of the storage container. Regarding the type of transportdevice, it is only described that said container can be configured as inDE 34 03 622 A1, that is, such that for dosing, an active or passivemechanical device is provided which opens a valve for a particular timeor to a particular width, such that the portion flows out into a dosingchamber. Furthermore, reference is made to active devices for conveyingtreatment agent portions, for example, pumps, solenoid valves orshut-off sliders.

Mechanical devices as described in DE 34 03 622 A1 are susceptible tofaults and are subject to wear and blockages during use. It is thereforean object of the invention to provide a form for storage containers andfor the dosing device which is practicable for the user and has very lowsusceptibility to faults.

According to the invention, this aim is achieved with the characterizingpart of claim 1 in such a way that the receiving chamber is configuredfor receiving a transportable container for a supply containing aplurality of doses of liquid or gel-form treatment agent and the dosingdevice operates purely in a fluid-mechanical manner and is equipped witha hydraulic siphon system. The container has a capacity that is largeenough so as to require changing only seldom and the dosing deviceoperates without any external energy input and entirely without movableparts which, during operation would otherwise gradually become scaledand blocked from the more or less lime-laden water. Reliable dosingwould then no longer be possible. However, use of the features accordingto the invention would overcome such obstacles so that the dosing wouldnot be subject to blockages caused by deposits, even after longoperation, and is therefore assured in the long term. The dosing cantake place simultaneously with water inflow and is therefore not subjectto any risk of dehydration. Acceleration of the treatment agent supplyis also possible through the arrangement and parallel operation of aplurality of storage containers and dosing devices.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the hydraulic siphonsystem comprises three vertical channels which are connected to oneanother in series by a lower bend and an upper bend, the last channel inthe series comprising an outlet opening to a flushing channel of thelaundry treatment machine, and the first channel in the series beingupwardly open and corresponding with a switchable water inlet of thelaundry treatment machine and having an input opening directly above thelower bend for the treatment agent from the storage container. In thisway, a fluid-mechanical dosing device is realized, with which adhesionsand encrustation on moving parts can be prevented. Since the hydraulicsiphon system is flushed with a supply of water on every dispensation ofa dose of treatment agent, blockage of the individual channels bydried-up residues of the treatment agent is no longer to be feared.

According to another development of the invention, the receiving chamberand the dosing device can be components of the laundry treatment machineand the storage container can be coupled to the dosing device. Thestorage container can then be restricted to the minimum of thecomponents thereof required for transportation.

In a development configured in this way, it is particularly advantageousif a coupling device for connecting the interior space of the containerto an input opening of the dosing device is arranged within the form ofthe receiving chamber. This coupling device must be configured to beparticularly simple and functionally certain in order for a reliablesealing connection to be made between the storage container and thedosing device in every case.

In another advantageous development of the invention, the receivingchamber is a component of the laundry treatment machine and the dosingdevice is a component of the container. This means that theconfiguration of the coupling to the washing agent dispensing system(flushing channel) is very much simpler. However, this proposal requiresthe integration of the dosing unit into the storage container. This canalso be realized on a technical scale in mass production and ensuresenduring functional reliability. Ease of use is advantageous for theoperating person.

In any event, the storage container must be sealed while able to betransported. For this purpose, according to an advantageous embodiment,the container has an outlet opening which is blocked for transport ofthe container and, for use of the container in the laundry treatmentmachine, can be unblocked.

The invention will now be described in greater detail based on exemplaryembodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a washing machine in atransparent view from the front,

FIG. 2 is a storage container which is connected via a coupling to adosing device arranged in the washing machine,

FIG. 3 is another storage container with integrated dosing device.

The washing machine shown in FIG. 1 has a cabinet-shaped housing 1 intowhich a washing solution container is installed, which can be fed fromabove with a washing agent-water mixture via a flushing channel 3. Thismixture is made in the dosing devices 4 in that a dose of liquidtreatment agent is taken from the associated storage container 5 and ismixed with fresh water from the fresh water inlet 6. The fresh waterinlets 6 are controlled from a mains power connection 7 via adistribution device 9 switchable by a control device 8. The containers 5and dosing devices 4 shown here are only schematically indicated and arenot intended to disclose any features that would indicate thedimensions, position or function thereof. The storage containers 5 areaccommodated in receiving chambers 10 which are accessible from outsidethe washing machine.

FIG. 2 shows schematically a transportable container 11, which has aform which is suitable as a storage container 5 and is insertable into areceiving chamber 10 which is accessible from outside the washingmachine. The dot-dashed frames 12, 13 and 14 indicate the limits withinwhich the respective assemblies of transportable container 11, coupling15 and dosing device 4 are arranged in the washing machine. Thetransportable container 11 comprises nothing more than the sleeve 16thereof and, as the only opening, a closing device in front of theoutlet opening 29 (for the duration of the transport and storage outsidethe washing machine and is therefore no longer shown here) and a filling17 of treatment agent. The coupling 15 is delimited by the two verticaldashed lines.

The dosing device 18 comprises a series of adjacent vertically arrangedchannels 19 to 22 of which the channel 19 is downwardly open and opensinto the flushing channel 3. At the top, the channel 19 is connected viaan upper bend 23 to the adjacent channel 20, which in turn is connectedbelow, via a lower bend 24 to the infeed channel 21 arranged therebeforein the outflow direction 25. The infeed channel 21 serves to feed infresh water which can be fed according to the arrow 26 into the upperfunnel 27 in controlled manner. Finally, the air inlet channel 22 servesto feed in air 28, the function of which will be described below.

During transportation and storage of the transportable container 11outside the area of use thereof in the washing machine, the outletopening 29 of said container is closed at the height of the right-handdashed line of the coupling 15 by a cover or membrane (see, for example,FIG. 4). In order to join the transportable container 11 to the dosingdevice 18, said cover or membrane is firstly removed and the outletopening 29 is connected to the coupling 15. Depending on whether thecoupling was previously connected to the dosing device 18 or not, saidconnection is now made or has already been made.

Thereafter, according to the principle of communicating vessels, thetreatment agent runs into all the channels of the lower region of thedosing device 18 until the upper edge of the outlet opening 29 isreached. The treatment agent passes into the lower regions of the airinlet channel 22, the infeed channel 21 and the channel 20 and into thelower bend 24. Due to the narrower opening 30 which acts as a throttle,the inflow of treatment agent into the lower bend 24 and the adjacentchannels 20 and 21 is delayed. On reaching the upper edge of the outletopening 29, the internal and external pressures are equal. The quantityof treatment agent now situated in the lower region of the dosing device18 corresponds to a standard quantity. Due to the dimensions of thegeometrical proportions of the dosing device 18, the standard quantityis adjustable within particular limits which also take account of theviscosity of the treatment agent. The lower region of the dosing device18 in the direction of flow of the treatment agent can also be enlargedbehind the throttling opening to the required amount. This standardquantity of treatment agent is replaced by air flowing in through theair inlet channel 22 and the outlet opening 29 in the storage container11 until the dosed standard quantity reaches the upper edge of theoutlet opening 29. The air rises as bubbles through the treatment agentin the storage container 11.

As soon as fresh water flows into the funnel 27 via the associated freshwater inlet 6 in the direction of the arrow 26, the liquid level withinthe dosing device rises to the level of the upper bend 23 and flows as awater-treatment agent mixture in the direction of the arrow 25 throughthe channel 19 and the flushing channel 3 into the washing solutioncontainer 2. During the time in which the fill level in the dosingdevice 18 is above the upper edge of the outlet opening 29, no furthertreatment agent can flow out of the transportable container 11 (which isnow a storage container 5). Only when the inflow of fresh water into theinfeed channel 21 predominates does the level fall below the upper edgeof the outlet opening 29. Then treatment agent runs in again from thetransportable container 11, as during the first time. Treatment agentalso flows to a small extent out of the transportable container 11 intothe lower region of the dosing device 18. However, this quantity isnegligibly small due to the throttling opening 30.

If the standard quantity of the dosed treatment agent is not sufficientfor the continuing treatment process in the washing machine, then thequantity can be multiplied by one or more influxes of fresh water untilthe total quantity is sufficient. A small quantity of fresh water issufficient each time for feeding in the dose, for example, 300 ml ineach case. As soon as the fresh water influx predominates and themixture runs out of the channel 19, the level of the mixture in thelower region of the dosing device 18 falls. From the time point at whichsaid level has fallen below the upper edge of the opening 30 between theinfeed channel 21 and the air inlet channel 22, air 28 flows through theair inlet channel 22 into the lower region of the dosing device 18 andinterrupts the flow of mixture. The small residue of the mixture whichhas not flowed out runs from the upper bend 23 back again and nowtreatment agent flows out of the transportable container 11 again untilthe dosing level is reached once again. Now a further influx of freshwater can feed in another dose.

The functions of the transportable container and the dosing device 18shown in FIG. 3 are identical to those in FIG. 2. Said functions willtherefore not be described here again. However, the dosing device 18with all the details thereof belong to the transportable container 31 ofFIG. 3. Therefore the coupling 15 is unnecessary because the dosingdevice 18 is a component of the transportable container 31 and for thisreason, is rigidly connected to the shell 16 of the transportablecontainer. Therefore, in FIG. 3, it is only the flushing channel 3 andthe infeed and air inlet functions indicated by the arrows 26 and 28which belong to the washing machine, as indicated by the frame 14. Assoon as the transportable container 31 has been brought into the correctposition thereof within the receiving chamber 10 (FIG. 1), the openingof the funnel 27 corresponds to the fresh water inlet 26, and theopening of the air inlet channel 22 corresponds to the respectiveambient air inlet and the opening of the channel 19 corresponds to theflushing channel 3.

Mounted in front of the outlet opening 29 is a closing device (not shownhere). Said closing device essentially comprises a cover which is guidedand removable vertically and becomes immersed with the lower edgethereof into a flat groove of the transportable container sleeve 16. Atthe upper edge, the cover has a hinge which is connected to a tractionmeans. With said traction means, an operator can pull the cover awayupwardly and thereby free the inlet opening 29 in order to allow thetreatment agent to flow into the lower region of the dosing device 18.In place of said cover, a membrane which is removed by comparable meanscan be attached and fastened so as to seal the outlet opening 29 with aperipheral welded or glued seam until the removal of said membrane.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. An automatically controlled laundry treatmentmachine, comprising: a detergent flushing device arranged in a machineinterior and comprising a receiving chamber configured for receiving atransportable storage container for a supply containing a plurality ofdoses of liquid or gel-form treatment agent, said receiving chamberbeing accessible from outside; and a dosing device for automatic dosingof the treatment agent, said dosing device operating purely in afluid-mechanical manner and being equipped with a hydraulic siphonsystem, said dosing device forming a component of the storage container.8. The laundry treatment machine of claim 7, wherein the hydraulicsiphon system comprises three vertical channels which are connected toone another in series by a lower bend and an upper bend and therebydefine a first channel and a last channel, with the last channelcomprising an outlet opening to a flushing channel of the laundrytreatment machine, and with the first channel being upwardly open andcorresponding with a switchable water inlet of the laundry treatmentmachine, said first channel having an input opening directly above thelower bend for the treatment agent from the storage container.
 9. Thelaundry treatment machine of claim 7, wherein the storage container hasan outlet opening, and further comprising a closing device for blockingthe outlet opening during a transport of the container and unblocked theoutlet opening for use of the storage container in the laundry treatmentmachine.
 10. The laundry treatment machine of claim 7, wherein thedosing device is rigidly connected to a shell of the storage container.